Aiden O'Connell as Rowdy Roddy Piper on Svengoolie!

Aiden as Rowdy Roddy Piper at the Flashback Weekend
costume contest made it on METV during Svengoolie!
And now, the backstory...

Aiden was my little helper Saturday at Flashback Weekend
as I sold my prints at the horror themed convention.
To amuse me (and him) he spent the day as Rowdy Roddy Piper in preparation for the Svengoolie hosted costume contest at 4pm. The nap Gods smiled upon me as he curled up under the table and had a good two hour sleep beforehand, so he was in a great mood when he woke up. I could never find any mini-guns for him to hold, but the much better 'pail of bubblegum' solution dawned on me the day before. He delighted in handing out gum to everyone, and luckily didn't run out, so no ass kicking was needed. At the contest, I went up with him and helped to get the point across by donning the "They Live' rubber mask. I had to wait 'til I was onstage though as I can't see anything through it.
He did a great job answering Sven's questions.
S-"What's your name?"
A-"Aiden Shane Bullitt O'Connell!"
S-"I mean, who are you supposed to be?"
A-"I don't know!"
All the other kids were fantastic and we delighted in being able to have the little squirt participate. He was quite happy to spend the next hour continuing to supply convention-goers with Dubble Bubble!

Who wore it best?

Aiden charms as Rowdy Roddy Piper at Flashback Weekend.
Not that he needs it, but bubble gum never hurts
when makin' time with the ladies.

I've found that under the vending table is a great place for the youngster to hang out.
Plus,  I always bring blankets and a pillow because he's
sure to take an afternoon nap in the secret fort. :-)

Ready to chew bubblegum and kick ass at Flashback Weekend! 

Acro-Cats! The Best in Furry Entertainment!

Instead of hanging at the nearest sports bar and rooting for the Cubbies last night, I instead decided to cheer on cats in glittery puffy collars jump through hoops.

That pretty much sums me up.

I’m talking, of course, about the Acro-Cats (aka Circus-Cats and Rock-Cats), a Chicago institution for the last dozen years. In fact, I must have seen one of the first performances of these trained felines with a pee-wee Leo and Kieran when the whiskered entertainers were part of a gallery show opening way back in 2004ish. Since then I’ve always kept my eye out for additional shows, no matter how many years stretched out between performances.

Now with 3 year old Aiden, he’s going to have to experience everything I find enjoyable all over again, no matter how he feels about it. On the way there Aiden kept requesting instead we drive home so he could take a bath with his Hot Wheels. Over and over. And over.

I explained, "What Daddy says is how it’s going to be. We’re going to see the Acro-Cats and you are not going to say ’no’. I am the King and you do whatever I say.”

That speech was as effective now as it was with my other two.

Aiden responded “I want to take a bath with my Hot Wheels!”

To sum it up, of course he had a great time. How can you not have fun with kittens in the lobby, a hedgehog making stage announcements, a chicken bowling and cats playing the chimes, cowbell, trumpet, guitar, piano and drums?!

And right now he’s taking a bath with his Hot Wheels.

'W'

Make sure to catch their remaining two show @

https://www.facebook.com/events/1899955186910276

Putt Putt Fever! The Lure of Novelty Golf!

I love all remnants of ‘ol time America. Give me a Drive-In over a Multi-Plex, a Sideshow over Great America and a Mom ’n Pop Diner over TGIF. We’re lucky to have a trifecta of family fun just down the street, The Bunny Hutch for snacks, right next to the Batting Cages, which butt up to Novelty Golf and Arcade, even though I only take advantage of them every couple years depending on the ages of all the children I’ve produced. After a long break, I went back in ‘16 with a two year old Aiden for a round of golf. When I found out he’d also be charged the $10 fee to putt putt, I passed and we settled for sharing a cup of ice cream (with sprinkles). Upon reflection, I don’t think the novelty golf folks are all driving Rolls Royces off their sawbuck admissions, so I got over my irritation and decided to count my blessings instead.

There are two course routes intertwined together, and we picked the one that ended at Frankenstein (yes, I know, ‘Frankenstein’s Monster). Since Aiden had a good time throwing the ball (we’ll still working on his golf club form)

we’ll be back asap for the other path.

And you know you’re at a cool place when the skeleton drawing by the cashier

is M.O’C clip art!

http://www.noveltygolf.com/